I Am Pleased To Inform You That Your Application For Membership Of The World Water Council Was Approved

Your Excellencies,
Misters Ministers,
Misters Members of Parliament,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

At the Opening Ceremony of the Conference on Iraqi Water Vision, please allow me first to greet all the participants gathered these days in Amman.

I would like, in my personal name and in the name of the World Water Council, to express our most sincere consideration to Iraq for the considerable efforts that are being done to rebuild the country and notably, to bring the access to water and basic sanitation to all the Iraqi population.

The World Water Council also considers it a great honor to have been invited to participate in this important Conference. For this reason, I would like to thank the Government of Jordan, the Government of Iraq and the organizer of the Conference, UNDP-Iraq, for inviting us today. Please let me particularly express my gratitude to Mr. Minister in charge of Water Resources in Iraq, my dear Friend Mr. Abdul Latif Rashid, who I had the pleasure to meet a few weeks ago in the occasion of the Kick-off meeting of the 5th World Water Forum in Turkey.

Let me also express my regrets for not being able to be with you today, as I had wished, to contribute to the analysis of the current situation of water resources in Iraq and to try to bring concrete solutions.

I have asked to my friend, Mokhtar Bzioui, member of the Bureau and Treasurer of the World Water Council, to read you this message and tell you the attention and interest the Council shows to this conference.

The World Water Council, created in 1996 has the ambition to be the Voice of Water, the Voice that expresses the seriousness of the situation and urges to put water and sanitation on the top of the political agenda.

Water is not lacking on our earth, you all know this. But it is not always there where it is needed most. Water resources should be available anywhere it is necessary both for human development and protection of the ecosystems.

Thus, due to the current demographic growth, the unlimited pollutions, the significant climatic evolutions, or due to bad management, water is lacking here, and is too abundant there.

This situation asks us to rethink a large part of our water policies. The challenge is important and requires some urgent solutions.

If we want to find solutions at the global level, we have to focus on the stakes at the national level. And some of you know how sensitive I am to the Iraqi situation, especially regarding access to water.

Dear Minister Abdul Latif Rashid, you reminded to the Board of Governors, during our last meeting in Turkey, that Iraq was indeed going through a difficult time and that the country was paying much attention to reconstruction and redevelopment. Despite those difficulties, your country has increased the budget allocated to water, a bulk of which will be spent on rebuilding systems and further developments.

This task is a very challenging one but I do believe that your constant efforts and willingness will be the basis for a success.

And we can pay tribute to the organizers of this conference, and to all of you ladies and gentlemen, for gathering us today and for contributing to solving water issues in Iraq through concrete actions and not only intentions.

The Board of Governors of our Council has expressed its willingness to support the Government of Iraq in any aspect, and in particular regarding capacity buildings. I know this is a very important aspect regarding reconstruction and we are looking forward to receiving you in Marseilles to speak about how concretely involve our members.

Another issue to which the members of the World Water Council are very attentive to, is the sharing of water resources, which is indeed a crucial challenge that our societies are facing. The recent meeting that took place in Istanbul between Iraq, Turkey and Syria is a very important step forward. It is the proof that sharing water can be a vector for collaboration between States and enables to overcome obstacles.

Capacity Building, River Basins Management, as well as Integrated Water Resources Management, will be at the centre of our analysis throughout the preparatory process of the 5th World Water Forum that will be held in Istanbul in 2009.

If we are ready here to collaborate with you in order to achieve a vision and a sustainable strategy framework for water resources planning and development, we also feel that your contribution to the next Forum is very important. Your approach and experience will be very profitable to all of us, especially within the framework of the central theme of the next Forum, which is “Bridging Divides for Water”.

Thank you all for contributing to the peaceful battle for water we are conducting, for water deserves extending hands, gathering hearts and merging minds, beyond the frontiers.

I wish excellent works to all of you and great success to this on International Conference on Iraqi Water Vision.

I also personally remain at your disposal to support you and I am looking forward to integrating your works and outcomes in the preparation of the 5th World Water Forum.

Thank you.

Lo?c FAUCHON

President of the World Water Council